Construction of a ribbed vault at the Escuela Técnica Superior de Arquitectura in Madrid

Abstract

The Department of Construction in the Escuela Superior de Arquitectura de Madrid carried out a pedagogical experience of great interest. In the framework of a new discipline (Workshop on Gothic Art of Construction), the students built a ribbed vault.

Gothic vaults are studied from several points of view, but the knowledge acquired in all these fields is never confronted with real practice. The aim of this pedagogical experience was to invert the terms, that is to rediscover and instil meaning into the theory through the physical experience of the construction.

Along the process, the students were made conscious of the following aspects inherent to this type of construction: first of all, we planed to acquire historical knowledge of the object and its author; second, we took up its geometric study and the discovery of its spherical shape, and, third, we carried out the design of its life-size geometric lay out. In the next stage, we proceeded to carve the different parts of the vault, to pass on to build the centering which, once finished, enabled us to tackle the assembly of the vault. Finally, we removed the timber framework of the vault.

This article deals with this whole process. The students who carried out the experiment of building a real vault can attest how to upgrade theoretical knowledge through actual experience is the best way to learn.